Strawberry plant named ‘Driscoll Lanai’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Lanai.’ The variety is similar to the varieties ‘San Juan’, and ‘Ana Maria’. The variety is distinguished from ‘San Juan’, and ‘Ana Maria’, in particular, by a bract frequency that is 80% typically paired, an orange-red external fruit color, an average of 300 achenes per fruit, a flat habit, dense stolon pubescence, a small size of calyx in relation to fruit on secondary fruit, a medium fruit flesh firmness, and moderately resistant to Verticillium wilt.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa.

1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry plants ‘62A313’ (unpatented) and ‘San Juan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,899) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered as a seedling in Monterey Country, Calif. in 1999. The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by stolons in a Shasta County, Calif. Propagules were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Monterey Country, Calif., where the variety was identified and selected for further evaluation. This propagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

2. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Lanai’. The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth in Tables 1-4.

3. COMPARISON TO SIMILAR VARIETIES

The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘Driscoll Lanai’ from those known to us are ‘San Juan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,899) and ‘Ana Maria’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,035). There are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by ‘San Juan’ and ‘Ana Maria’. The new variety is distinguished from ‘San Juan’ and ‘Ana Maria’ by having, for example, a bract frequency that is 80% typically paired, an orange-red external fruit color, an average of 300 achenes per fruit, a flat habit, dense stolon pubescence, a small size of calyx in relation to fruit on secondary fruit, a medium fruit flesh firmness, and moderately resistant to Verticillium wilt. Parent variety ‘62A313’ was not available for side-by side comparison. ‘Driscoll Lanai’ differs from ‘62A313’ by having better shipability and rounder berry shape. A comparison between ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and parent variety ‘San Juan’ can be found in Tables 1-4 below.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety, including fruit, foliage, and flowers, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in color illustrations of these characteristics.

FIG. 1 shows the whole the plant.

FIG. 2 shows the upper side of the leaves of the plant.

FIG. 3 shows the under side and upperside of the flowers.

FIG. 4 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up of the fruit.

5. DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants and fruit grown in Monterey County, Calif., U.S.A. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Observations of ‘Driscoll Lanai’, ‘San Juan’, and ‘Ana Maria’ were taken in side-by-side comparison in 1999-2003. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors are described and the most similar color designations are provided from The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

5.2 PROPAGATION

The new variety is principally propagated by way of stolons. Although propagation by stolons is presently preferred, other known methods of propagating strawberry plants may be employed.

5.3. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW VARIETY

Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4. In the tables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except where indicated. The fruit described is the secondary fruit on one-year-old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers. Flowers of ‘Driscoll Lanai’ are fully self-fertile and typical of the species.

Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Lanai’ compared with characteristics of ‘San Juan’ and ‘Ana Maria’. Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Lanai’ compared with characteristics of the varieties ‘San Juan’ and ‘Ana Maria’. The information in the Tables for quantitative characteristics is shown in average values. Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to pests and diseases compared with reactions of the varieties ‘San Juan’ and ‘Ana Maria’. Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to that of the varieties ‘San Juan’ and ‘Ana Maria’.

TABLE 1 QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL LANAI’, ‘SAN JUAN’, AND ‘ANA MARIA’ ‘Driscoll ‘Ana ‘San Lanai’ Maria’ Juan’ Plant Characteristics Height of 21.9 27.4 22.1 Plant (cm) Spread of 47.6 52.4 47.6 Plant (cm) Number of 5.3 4.8 3.7 Crowns Leaf Characteristics Terminal Leaflet 8.1 8.9 8.0 Length (cm) Terminal Leaflet 7.6 8.2 7.6 Width (cm) Terminal Leaflet 1.07 1.09 1.06 Length/Width Ratio # Teeth/ 23.4 21.1 20 Terminal Leaflet Color of medium medium medium to upper side green green dark green 139A 147A 147A Color of light green light green light green under side 138B 148B 147C Petiole 18.7 22.9 18.4 Length (cm) Petiole yellow- yellow- yellow- Color green green green 145A 145B 149A Petiolule 15.5 17.5 13.3 Length (mm) Petiolule 3.2 3.8 3.1 Diameter (mm) Petiolule yellow- yellow- yellow- Color green green green 145A 145B 149A Bract 80% 20% 50% Frequency typically typically typically paired single paired Stipule 3.7 3.2 3.2 Length (cm) Stipule 1.2 0.9 1.1 Width (cm) Stolon Characteristics Anthocyanin purple purple Color red red 60A 59A Diameter at 3.74 3.10 Bract (mm) Avg. # of 67 52 57 Daughter Plants (2002 Nursery) Flower Characteristics Petal 1.21 1.23 1.04 Length (cm) Petal 1.29 1.20 1.07 Width (cm) Petal Length/ 0.94 1.03 0.97 Width Ratio Flower 2.58 2.64 2.3 Diameter (cm) Calyx 3.25 3.03 3.12 Diameter (cm) Sepal 14.80 11.90 11.97 Length (mm) Sepal 7.67 6.24 6.74 Width (cm) Petal Color white white white 155C 155D 155C Fruiting Truss 30.0 36.0 27.9 Length (cm) Fruit Characteristics Fruit 4.5 3.9 4.2 Length (cm) Fruit 3.8 3.6 4.0 Width (cm) Fruit Length/ 1.19 1.10 1.05 Width Ratio Average Berry 23.3 21.6 25.2 Weight (g) External Color orange red dark red 45B 46A red 53A Internal Color orange orange red red 47C red 44B 44A Achene gray- dark dark Coloration purple to red to red to yellow- yellow yellow green 46B to 46B to 185B to 16A 16A 154B Achenes 300 217 414 per Berry Achene .0059 .0046 .0051 Weight (g) 2003 Yield 1,679 1,645 1,449 (g/plant)

TABLE 2 QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL LANAI’, ‘ANA MARIA’ AND ‘SAN JUAN’ ‘Driscoll Lanai’ ‘Ana Maria’ ‘San Juan’ Plant Habit flat globose to globose to upright flat globose Canopy Density open medium to medium open Vigor medium strong medium Leaf Shape in slightly concave slightly con- flat to Cross Section to flat cave to flat slightly convex Interveinal medium medium to medium to Blistering strong strong Glossiness weak medium weak to medium weak Number of three only three only sometimes more Leaflets than 3 leaflets (approx. 17% of leaves) Terminal Leaflet revolute to flat flat revolute to flat Margin Profile Terminal Leaflet rounded rounded to obtuse to Shape of Base oblique rounded Terminal Leaflet rounded obtuse rounded Shape of Teeth Stipule medium to sparse medium Pubescence dense Petiole medium sparse medium Pubescence Petiole Pose downward outward outward to of Hairs downward Stolon Amount many medium to medium to many many Anthocyanin strong medium strong Coloration Thickness medium to thick thin to medium medium Pubescence dense sparse to medium medium Inflorescence Position Relative level to above level to above beneath to level to Foliage with Diameter of same size to smaller to same larger Calyx Relative larger size to Corolla on Secondary Flowers Diameter of Inner larger smaller to same same size Calyx Relative size to Outer on Secondary Flowers Spacing of Petals overlapping free to touching overlapping Fruiting Truss Attitude at prostrate semi-erect prostrate First Picking Fruit Predominant conical to ovoid conical conical to Shape almost cylindrical Difference in slight none to very moderate Shapes Between slight Primary and Secondary Fruits Band Without narrow to narrow to narrow Achenes medium medium Unevenness of weak weak medium Surface Evenness of even even even Color Glossiness strong strong very strong Insertion of level with level with level with Achenes surface surface surface Insertion of level level with to level Calyx set above Pose of the spreading to spreading spreading to Calyx Segments reflexed reflexed Size of Calyx smaller same size to same size in Relation to larger Fruit, on Secondary Fruit Adherence of strong weak to strong Calyx medium Firmness of medium soft to medium firm Flesh Evenness of uneven slightly uneven slightly uneven Flesh Color to even Distribution of marginal and marginal and marginal and Flesh Color central central central Hollow Center medium small medium Size Sweetness medium medium to medium to strong strong Texture When fine fine to medium medium Tasted Acidity medium medium medium Time of mid-February early-February mid-February Flowering Harvest Interval late March thru mid-March thru late-March thru in 2003 early-November early- early-November November Type of Bearing partially partially partially everbearing everbearing everbearing

5.4. REACTION TO STRESS, PESTS, AND DISEASE

TABLE 3 REACTIONS TO STRESS PESTS AND DISEASES FOR ‘DRISCOLL LANAI’, ‘SAN JUAN’ AND ‘ANA MARIA’ ‘Driscoll Lanai’ ‘Ana Maria’ ‘San Juan’ Reaction to Pests Tetranychus urticae susceptible susceptible moderately susceptible Lygus hesperus susceptible susceptible susceptible Reaction To Diseases Botrytis Fruit Rot susceptible susceptible susceptible Powdery Mildew susceptible moderately susceptible susceptible Verticillium wilt moderately susceptible susceptible resistant Strawberry Mottle moderately moderately moderately Virus resistant resistant resistant Xanthomonas moderately moderately moderately fragariae susceptible susceptible susceptible

5.5. ISOZYME ANALYSIS

In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar ‘Driscoll Lanai’ has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its genetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety and distinguishing it from other somewhat similar and/or related strawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of ‘Driscoll Lanai’, ‘San Juan’, and ‘Ana Maria’ were analyzed by electrophoresis for isozyme patterns of the enzymes phosphoglucoisomerase (“PGI”), leucine aminopeptidase (“LAP”) and phosphoglucomutase (“PGM”). See J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. Isozyme characterization of the three varieties is presented in Table 4, with the letters representing the banding patterns for each enzyme as designated in the above-identified article.

TABLE 4 ISOZYME ANALYSIS FOR ‘DRISCOLL LANAI’, ‘ANA MARIA’ AND ‘SAN JUAN’ Locus ‘DRISCOLL Lanai’ ‘ANA MARIA’ ‘SAN JUAN’ PGI A1 A1 A2 LAP B3 B3 B3 PGM C2 C4 C4 

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, substantially as shown and described. 